Aldermen appoint Nell Rogers to city School Board post

A new city School Board member from Ward 1 was appointed by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen last week following a lengthy discussion.

Nell Rogers, a former planner for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was appointed to serve the remainder of the term of Ron Sparnecht who resigned from the School Board last month.

Rogers was recommended by Ward 1 Alderman Josh Gamblin who told board members that she had a lifelong love for education and had previously served appointments under two governors.

"I was floored when she said she would serve," Gamblin said. "She will be a credit to that board and any other board she sits on."

Aldermen voiced no opposition to Rogers' appointment, but said they had been asked personally to attend a Parents for Public Schools' training session on appointing School Board members before hiring Sparnecht's successor.

Ward 2 Alderman Jim Fulton said PPS could meet with the board on April 17 and an appointment to the School Board could be made afterwards.

The consensus of the board, however, was that an appointee needed to be in place prior to the School Board's April meeting.

Alderman-at-large Willie Jackson said he planned to attend a PPS meeting but noted that he was ready to cast his vote for School Board.

"I'd hate for this person to back out," he said.

Mayor James A. Young also agreed.

"The timing is just not here," he said, noting that aldermen had made other appointments to the School Board without PPS training.

"We have appointed two other people under the premise of their good name and reputation," Young said.

After Rogers was appointed by unanimous vote, Gamblin said she was dedicated to public schools.

"She wants to give of herself to do this," he said.

Jackson agreed.

"She will be a tremendous asset," he said.

Rogers is a former 10th and 11th grade English teacher at Philadelphia High School. She was employed for many years as a planner for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, where she was involved with Tribal schools.

She is currently employed as bureau manager for Mississippi Development Authority's Disaster Recovery Division.